Financial base, safety lead to re-election of Rancho incumbents

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Residents who live in a city ranked safest in the state with a solid financial base appear happy with the status quo and re-elected incumbents Tony Beall and Carol Gamble. A city planning commissioner Brad McGirr took the third spot — a two-year seat.

"The main thing I promised voters was to move the city in the same direction that we have been," said Mayor Tony Beall, heading into his third term on the Rancho dais. "We (Beall, Councilwoman Carol Gamble) ran on a proud record of accomplishment. I was confident the residents would appreciate the results of what we've delivered over the past years."

Beall pointed to the city's balanced budget that finished the last fiscal year with a $1.2 million surplus. In addition to the surplus, Rancho has more than $20 million in reserves, he said. The city has also allocated reserves to ensure it is prepared for emergencies; that infrastructure, equipment and facilities are in good working condition; and the city's financial obligations are paid on time.

Since incorporation in 2000, the city's No. 1 priority has been public safety, Beall said. The council has allocated nearly 50 percent of the annual budget to this effort. Last year, more than $7 million was spent on the police services contract. Just two months ago, the city launched a child safety officer to watch over the community's youth at school and outside of school. The position is the first of its kind in the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

The focus on safety has resulted in Rancho ranking as one of the safest communities in California, Beall said. Last year — for the second year in a row — Rancho was ranked as the No. 1 safest city in the state of California for cities with a population greater than 20,000 residents, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report.

While Beall said he and the council will miss Councilman Jerry Holloway, whose term expires in December, he looks forward to McGirr taking his spot.

"It's a big loss to have Jerry leave the council," he said. "He has served so well for 10 years. But when he announced he would retire, he asked Brad McGirr to run. He knew he shared the same type of philosophy."

McGirr, filling a two-year seat left over from a previous councilmember, said he will bring a common-sense attitude with significant experience in law, legislative analysis and city planning to the council. He has served on the city's planning commission for two years. McGirr said he expects to fit well into the current council make-up but is not shy to voice his opinion

"I pride myself as one who is able to disagree respectfully, and to do so without being disagreeable," he said. "Although I anticipate there will be occasions where my opinion will be in the minority, those opinions will always be voiced with the best interests of the residents of Rancho Santa Margarita in mind."

"If I can serve with the same level of professionalism as has been displayed over the years by Councilman Holloway, I think the residents will be well represented, and the issues facing the city will be addressed in a competent fashion," McGirr added.

One of the city's biggest issues is what will happen at Chiquita Ridge. In January 2009, Rancho reached a settlement with the county in a property rights tug of war over hundreds of acres of open space. The settlement left the city with almost 100 acres of undeveloped land and the county with more than 400 to be preserved as part of O'Neill Regional Park.

The 92-acre portion of Chiquita Ridge that the city will receive is tucked between Antonio Parkway and the 241 Toll Road, near Tijeras Creek Golf Club.

The city is now undertaking a study to develop a 23-acre active sports park, making it South County's biggest upon completion. The city is also hoping to add its first hotel and some retail use to the parcel.